Petunia plant named ‘KLEPH05115’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘KLEPH05115’, characterized by its compact and outwardly spreading growth habit; mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; relatively large red purple-colored flowers with a darker red purple-colored central star; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KLEPH05115’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘KLEPH05115’.

The new Petunia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Stuttgart, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching Petunia cultivars with compact and trailing plant habit, early and freely flowering habit, and unique and attractive flower color.

The new Petunia originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor during the summer of 2002 in Stuttgart, Germany of a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number T 15, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number J 213, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Stuttgart, Germany in May, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Stuttgart, Germany since June, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar KLEPH05115 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘KLEPH05115’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘KLEPH05115’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia:

-   -   1. Compact and outwardly spreading growth habit; mounded plant         habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Relatively large red purple-colored flowers with a darker red         purple-colored central star.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in plant shape as plants of the female parent selection are more trailing and not mounded.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more compact and uniform than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia are more mounding than and not as         upright as plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the Petunia cultivar Famous Rose Veins, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Stuttgart, Germany, plants of the new Petunia differed from plants of the cultivar Famous Rose Veins in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia were more mounding than plants of         the cultivar Famous Rose Veins.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia were less freely branching than         plants of the cultivar Famous Rose Veins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Petunia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘KLEPH05115’ grown in a hanging basket container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Stuttgart, Germany, under commercial practice during the spring in a glass-covered greenhouse with day temperatures averaging 18° C., night temperatures averaging 14° C. and light levels averaging 20,000 lux. Rooted young plants had been growing for about five months when the photograph and description were taken. Plants used for the description were grown in 12-cm containers. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida cultivar KLEPH05115. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number T 15, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number J 213, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 20° C. to 26° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 25 days             at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, outwardly spreading growth             habit, mounded plant habit. Freely branching habit with             about six primary lateral branches each with multiple             secondary lateral branches; pinching is typically not             required. Moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 9 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 17 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 8 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 0.5 cm to 2.5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—137C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 2 cm to 3 cm.         -   Width.—About 1 cm to 2.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire; weakly undulate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Slightly pubescent.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface:             138A; venation, 146D. Developing and fully expanded foliage,             lower surface: 137C; venation, 145A.         -   Petiole length.—About 2 mm to 3 mm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Petiole color, upper surface.—145A.         -   Petiole color, lower surface.—145B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Relatively large salverform             flowers arranged singly arising from leaf axils. Freely             flowering habit with usually about 26 open flowers and             flower buds developing per lateral branch. Flowers not             persistent. Flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously             throughout the summer in Germany.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about one week on             the plant.         -   Flower diameter.—About 7 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 5 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 2.3 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 3.5 cm.             Diameter: About 1.8 cm. Color: 145C.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 2.5 cm to 3.5 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2.8 cm.             Petal shape: Roughly cordate. Petal apex: Crenate. Petal             margin: Entire; undulating. Petal texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Throat and tube texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface:             73B; central star, 64A. Petal, when opening, lower surface:             62B; central star, 63B. Petal, fully opened, upper surface:             68B; central star, 61C; venation, 61C. Petal, fully opened,             lower surface: 65A; central star, 63B; venation, 63B.             Throat: 155D; venation, 61A. Tube: 155D; venation, 61A.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused at the base per flower. Sepal length: About             1.5 cm. Sepal width: About 5 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate to             elliptical. Sepal apex: Obtuse. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal             texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: 138A. Color, lower surface: 138B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.7 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Angle: Erect to about 60° from stem axis. Strength:             Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 137C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Four per             flower. Anther shape: Elliptic. Anther length: About 3 mm.             Anther color: 2C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 2B.             Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About             8 mm. Style length: About 5 mm. Style color: 1C. Stigma             shape: Oval. Stigma color: 1C. Ovary color: 1C. Seed/fruit:             Seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants             of the new Petunia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 50° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Petunia. 

1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘KLEPH05115’ as illustrated and described. 